Zenith Bank, GTbank, Yabatech Rector; Engr. Dr. Abdul Adedotun Ibraheem, Lagos Police Chief; AIG Muhammed Ali Ari and the Sec-Gen of Nigeria Olympic Committee; Tunde Popoola 7 others have been nominated by Somolu Newspaper Leadership Awards for enriching lives and contributing to the growth and development of Somolu community, Lagos State and Nigeria at large.
Other nominated are the ALGON President and the Chairman of Conference 57; Hon. Alabi Kolade David, the Secretary-General of Nigeria Olympic Committee; Mr. Babatunde Popoola, MD/CEO of Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA); Dr. Muyiwa Gbadegesin, the CEO of Blue Spot Entertainment; Chief Remi Ugo, and the Council Chairman of Agboyi Ketu LCDA; Hon. Dele Osinowo.
According to a statement by Somolu Newspaper Leadership Awards and the others were nominated by its readers because of their impact on society in the past year.
The Newspaper said the ‘Somolu Personality of the Year award’ would go to the individual who has had the most influence on events of the year gone by, adding that the final shortlist will be released as soon as possible.
Zenith Bank Plc was founded by Jim Ovia in 1990 to compete with the existing four major banks. Zenith Bank was established in May 1990 and commenced banking operations in July of the same year. At inception, it had a capital base of $4 million. It began operations during a period of government liberalization of the banking sector when the Central Bank granted up to twenty banking licenses in a year to investors.
The bank’s first office was originally a residential house on Victoria Island that was modified into a banking hall. In its early years, the bank witnessed a period of rapid growth. In 1997, following a directive for banking institutions to shore up their capital base, Zenith increased its capitalization to 500 million naira.
Guaranty Trust Bank Plc was established in 1990 as a limited liability company (LLC) regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria to provide commercial and other banking services to Nigerians. The bank began operations as a commercial bank in 1991. The Bank inaugurated its first Head Office on February 11, 1991, at The Plaza, Adeyemo Alakija, Victoria Island, Lagos. In 1992, the Bank opened two branches in Lagos (Ikeja and Broad Street), as well as its first upcountry branch in Kano, and a Port-Harcourt branch in 1993.
In September 1996, Guaranty Trust Bank plc became a publicly traded corporation and received the President’s Merit Award from the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The Bank received a universal banking license in February 2002 and was later designated as a settlement bank by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2003. In the same year, it incorporated subsidiaries in the Gambia and Sierra Leone.
Guaranty Trust Bank undertook its second share offering in 2004 and raised over ₦11 billion from Nigerian Investors to expand its operations.
Hon. Alabi Kolade David is a lawyer and vibrant quintessential political leader par excellence and impactful leader whose developmental trajectory is “people-based” and tailors governance towards the citizens’ demands.
He was the former Vice-Chairman and former Executive Secretary before he was later elected as the Chairman of Bariga Local Development Area (LCDA) in 2019. Shortly after that, he was elected as the Chairman of 20 local govt and 37 LCDAs.
Owing to his uncommon exemplary leadership, methodical political brilliance, hard work, and confidence, he was also elected by the National Executive Council (N.E.C) of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) sitting over 774 Local Governments of Nigeria and just recently appointed as Board member of Commonwealth of Local Government.
His selfless service to humanity and his capacity to propel the community, greater Lagos, and Nigeria at large is quite heartwarming, the stability enjoyed in his administration is a reflection of his being a doyen.
AIG Mohammed Ali Ari currently in charge of Zone 2 Nigeria Police Command Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos is unarguably one of the officers who can proudly claim to have an in-depth knowledge of the Lagos terrain with its attendant crime characteristics. This is certainly based on the fact that out of the 29 years he has served so far in the Police Force, the major part of it has been spent in Lagos and Delta States alone.
The remaining part was spent at other police commands such as Benue, Zone 7 Command, FCT Police Staff College, Rivers, and Bayelsa. What this clearly shows is that Ali is more concerned with fighting crime in Delta and Lagos than elsewhere since the number of years he has served in the two states in different capacities gives him some advantage in understanding the arts and science of crime and criminality and how best to checkmate same.
Little wonder why he can audaciously tell criminals of different stock to relocate from wherever he served if they would not repent as he has what it takes to pursue them to the gate of hell.
Having served at different times in Lagos as Crime Officer, Divisional Police Officer, Area Commander and currently Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations and Delta as the Officer in charge of general investigation SCIID, Asaba, DPO Avenue police station, Warri, DPO B Division, Asaba, DPO Head Bridge, Asaba, Staff Officer Junior, Asaba, DPO Agbor, Ali stands taller than many of his contemporaries as far as policing Lagos and Delta States is concerned.
This has become evident in light of the fact that with his foiling of bank robbery in the Apapa area of Lagos in 2009 and the recovery of five AK47 rifles with 1500 rounds of live ammunition, authorities of the Police Force have chosen to entrust him with more challenging task where-ever he is posted to serve.
Perhaps, this is ostensibly why some persons often mistake his identity. His mastery of some Delta languages outside his own native language has often brought him closer to the populace thereby making his community policing strategy work better.
This is why he can confidently and authoritatively tell anyone who cares to listen that “he knows in and out of Lagos and Delta States. “We act on information and intelligence and would arrive at the criminals’ den and pick them like snails”.
The Rector, Engr. Dr. Abdul Adedotun Ibraheem was a chief lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and the Director of Open Distance and Flexible E-Learning (formerly, Flexible Skills Development Centre) of the College until he was appointed as the Rector of the institution.
He was also a former Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, in addition to serving as chairman and member of important and strategic management and academic board committees.
Abdul, a native of Ado-Odo-Otta in Ogun State was born in 1965. He joined the service of Yaba College of Technology in 1993 as Lecturer 2 and rose steadily to become a chief lecturer in 2012.
He obtained his Ph.D (Engineering) in 2011 from Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
He got an M.Sc in Industrial and Production Engineering in 2004 from the University of Ibadan and an M.Sc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Lagos, where he had earlier got a B.Sc also in Mechanical Engineering.
He is a member of many professional bodies. Abdul, a scholar of high repute and immense quality, has published valuable and scholarly papers in both local and international journals.
He is married with children and is succeeding Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe whose tenure as Rector ended on the 29th of January, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Somolu Newspaper Leadership Awards represent one of the best in the Industry retaining the great commitment, concept, and creativity from every nominee. The awards seek to celebrate and spotlight the best individual, brands, or groups who have enriched lives in 2023 by leveraging on their output to amplify everyday lives. The award recognizes, celebrates, rewards, and amplifies the eventual winners’ outstanding activities and contributions to the Somolu Community and Lagos State at large on a yearly basis.